Linebacker Lee directs defense in just third season

Sean Lee was one a few bright spots for the Cowboys defense last season, but he expects a regular training camp will work wonders for the unit this year.

Ventura County Star

Sean Lee (50) of the Dallas Cowboys walks onto the practice field during a training camp held in Oxnard Tuesday afternoon.

Ventura County Star

Lee (far right) is responsible for calling the signals for Rob Ryan's complex defense. "He knows this game inside and out," says Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett of the third-year linebacker.

Ventura County Star

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee is a football junkie.

The third-year linebacker was so anxious for training camp to start that he actually attended the initial three days of practice in Dallas that were geared toward rookies, quarterbacks and players returning from injuries.

Lee didn't practice, but was at the facility watching tape, putting in the extra hours that he feels will help better prepare for the this season.

The former Penn State standout was one of the team's few bright spots last season, taking over as the leader of the defense in just his first season as a starter.

"He came in last year and really took the bull by the horns," head coach Jason Garrett said. "He did so many good things for us early on in his career. He's just the kind of guy you want playing that position.

"He knows this game inside and out. He knows this scheme, he studies the opposing offenses. It's really, really important to him. And his personality is infectious."

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan compares Lee to former Patriots standout Tedy Bruschi in terms of leadership and the ability to direct the defense.

Defensive end Anthony Spencer said the young linebacker shows a remarkable level of commitment and knowledge.

"He knows everything that goes on around him and knows what everyone is doing," Spencer said. "It's hard because we have so many multiple defenses. For him to know them all, you can't do anything but respect him for that."

Lee is appreciative of the praise, but like a true leader, he's much more comfortable talking about his teammates.

"I look at myself, and I usually see the weaknesses of my game… so I'm always trying to concentrate on what I can do to be a better football player," Lee said. "… I know I have a lot of room for improvement. Until I'm the best at what I do, I'm going to keep working.

"I mean, there's too many good players, there's too much competition in this league to not work every day, to not go out there work on your job, on your technique, and everything to make you better. If you want to be at the top of your game, you've always got to do that."

Garrett said Lee is more than an undersized guy who will run through a wall to help his team.

"He's a talented guy, too," Garrett said. "… He was an outstanding athlete growing up. You see a lot of that when he plays. He's very instinctive. He's got great ball skills. He makes a lot of plays that way. It goes along with all those intangible qualities."

When Lee showed up in Dallas in 2010, he had the chance to learn from veterans Bradie James and Keith Brookings. During his rookie season he showed enough talent to make Garrett and Ryan comfortable with him being the signal-caller in Ryan's extremely complex defense.

Between a new system and having no offseason because of the lockout to get comfortable with the Ryan's scheme, the defense struggled a year ago.

Lee believes this season will be different.

"We're coming into camp with a lot more confidence," Lee said. "Now we can really perfect the techniques, instead of finally learning the defense for the first time."

Lee enjoys playing in Ryan's system that features multiple looks on virtually every down.

"Coach Ryan always has wrinkles; he's a guy who loves variations," Lee said. "He loves teaching different defenses, but our defense has a great foundation to build off of, and I think that's a key."

Last season, Lee posted a team-high 131 tackles, 52 more than anyone else, and despite playing half the season with an injured wrist, which he dislocated in a game against the Eagles.

Lee said the wrist was painful but never enough to keep him from playing. Once he got on the field, he tried to forget about it and just play.

Now healthy, Lee is looking forward to helping the Cowboys return to the top of the NFC East standings.

He believes the work they are putting in during these opening weeks in Oxnard will pay dividends down the road.

"We had an opportunity last year, but we didn't take advantage of it," Lee said. "All offseason, we've been thinking about that, we've been working to try to get back.

"When we get in those situations again this year, we want to capitalize. So that's what the excitement is, to come back and try to make up for the games we didn't win last year."